Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-08-18

Kap1dS- people whose necessities
required the means of crossing
the river safely by night as we'll
as by day. Among those who
actively favored it were men then
prominent in the county, honored
and trusted by those who knew
them, not few of whom have since
passed away. There was but one
| opinion as to the wisdom of saw
ing the people from a perpetual
burden of tolls by inserting in the
charter to the Bridge Company a
provision authorizing the county
to purchase the bridge and there
after to make it a free bridge. If
it was a trick" to impose an un-
! just burden upon the people of
the county, it must have been
"originated'' and perpetrated with
the approval and aid of the
best men in the county at the
time, including the residents Of
the towns. The county was at no
time required to purchase the
bridge 1t did so voluntarily, by
the action of its Supervisors.
The people of the county gener-
ally favored the purchase. There
were of course some exceptions.
In january, 1873, the people of
the Town of Rudolph petitioned
the County Board ito take some
action in the matter of a free
bridge across the Wisconsin River
at Grand Rapids" !" Rudolph then
contained much more territory
than now, extending to the north
ern line of the county: Upon the
petition of her people, and in
obedience to a general sentiment
in favor of such action, the Board
took measures looking to a pur-
chase of the bridge. Among 9TH
er things, it appointed committees
of its numbers to confer with the
Bridge Company and ascertain its
views. Such committees were
unable to obtain any proposition
whatever from the Company look
ing to a sale OF its bridge. This
compelled the Board, if it was
to purchase the bridge at all,
(Which it determined by resolu-
ton to do, to have its value as
certained by appraisal, as provid-
ed for by the charter This was
done. The appraisers selected
were all non-residents of Wood
County, as follows: d. w. Well
man, of St. Paul, w. r. Sill, of
La Crosse, and Thomas B. Tyler,
of Sparta. They were all disin-
terested, honorable men. Mr..
Tyler, in particular, (since de
ceased } was well and favorably
known throughout this state.
These appraisers acted under oath,
and made sworn report of their
doings. They appraised the
bridge, and the Board of Super
visors consummated the purchase,
paying the appraised price.
There were but three votes out of
eleven Supervisors present, against
the purchase, and one of those
was from the Town of Grand
Rapids. Centralia was then town,
having but one member of the
Board, and he, (Mr. Lyon did not
vote at all. Supervisors from the
towns of Saratoga, Sigel, Rudolph
and Seneca, all favored the pur-
chase. OF the committees ap-
pointed to represent the Board
and act for it in the negotiations
with the Bridge Company, a ma
jority were from the towns-out-
side of Centralia and Grand Rap
ids. Mr.. Rein, of Rudolph, Mr..
Carrell, of Seneca, and Mr. Whip
pie, of Sigel, were among those
who acted upon snch committees.
These are the men, Cor some of
them, who participated promi-
nently in the adoption of a meas
ure then designed and believed to
be in the public interest, but which
Mr. Lathrop is pleased to charac-
terize as the consummation of a
scheme" by the aid of a trick"
He plainly intimates that the
Bridge Company parted with little
of value, but received large pay,
pursuant to such scheme" " 1t al
ready appears that the committees
of the Board could make no terms
with the Bridge Company, who
evidently thought their property
valuable, while the price paid for
it was fixed by three disinterested
non-residents of the county, who
determined it upon their oaths
after a careful examination of the
property, and after a full hearing
of all parties in interest. Mr..
Lathrop asserts that the Cities of
Centralia and Grand Rapids have
always had virtual control of
county affairs. IF this is true, and
they were engaged in an unjust